Although many colonists benefited from the trade relationship with the home country, the real purpose of the colonial system was to enrich Britain.
According to mercantilist theory, any wealth flowing from the colonies to another nation came at the expense of the home country. As a result, beginning in 1651, England’s Parliament, the country’s legislative body, passed the Navigation Acts, a series of laws restricting colonial trade. The system created by the Navigation Acts benefited England and proved to be good for most colonists as well. Passing all foreign goods through England yielded jobs for English dockworkers and import taxes for the English treasury. Also, by restricting trade to English or colonial ships, the acts spurred a boom in the colonial shipbuilding industry.
The British interest in establishing colonies was influenced by the theory of mercantilism, which held that a country’s ultimate goal was self-sufficiency and that all countries were in a competition to acquire the most gold and silver.
Dominion of new England- When King James II succeeded his brother Charles in 1685, he immediately aggravated the situation. he placed the Northern colonies under single ruler in Boston. Within three years, the land from southern Maine to New Jersey was united into one vast colony, the Dominion of New England.
The Glorious Revolution- In 1689 Parliament voted to offer the throne to William and Mary. In the aftermath of these events, which became known as the Glorious Revolution, Parliament passed a series of laws establishing its power over the monarch.
Although many colonists benefited from the trade relationship with the home country, the real purpose of the colonial system was to enrich Britain.
According to mercantilist theory, any wealth flowing from the colonies to another nation came at the expense of the home country. As a result, beginning in 1651, England’s Parliament, the country’s legislative body, passed the Navigation Acts, a series of laws restricting colonial trade. The system created by the Navigation Acts benefited England and proved to be good for most colonists as well. Passing all foreign goods through England yielded jobs for English dockworkers and import taxes for the English treasury. Also, by restricting trade to English or colonial ships, the acts spurred a boom in the colonial shipbuilding industry.
The British interest in establishing colonies was influenced by the theory of mercantilism, which held that a country’s ultimate goal was self-sufficiency and that all countries were in a competition to acquire the most gold and silver.
Dominion of new England- When King James II succeeded his brother Charles in 1685, he immediately aggravated the situation. he placed the Northern colonies under single ruler in Boston. Within three years, the land from southern Maine to New Jersey was united into one vast colony, the Dominion of New England.
The Glorious Revolution- In 1689 Parliament voted to offer the throne to William and Mary. In the aftermath of these events, which became known as the Glorious Revolution, Parliament passed a series of laws establishing its power over the monarch.